Lesson 83 November 12, 2003
There are at least 5 very clear cut characteristics of the love that the husband is to have for his wife. We have covered the first 2
1. Any genuine love is realistic. (i.e. not living in a dream world)
2. Flowing from this realistic love, "husbands love your wives (analogy) just as Christ also loved the church"; we find our second element; "and gave Himself up for her." (vs:25b)
** Love is to be sacrificial.
3. Real Love, directed by the husband, is purposeful; there is a purpose actually a dual purpose we'll find in vs:26 and vs:27
Note: Spots and wrinkles:
Spots are caused by defilement from outside, the external influences that we fail to deal with; they come from not handling the negative external influences from the culture; vpt and actions contrary to clear teaching of the word.
The wrinkles are caused by decay on the inside, outworking of the old nature when it is in rulership.
*** 4. The 4th characteristic of love in marriage is found in vs:28-29 Read!
Paul says here that that desire for self preservation, which is a legitimate one, when he says that he loves his wife, he loves himself, this love then is to be unreserved.
*** 5. The 5th characteristic of love in marriage - is found in vs:31.
The leaving and cleaving principle.
As dearly as one may love and respect their parents, marriage creates a new and higher allegiance which supersedes the former one.
Note: Jesus quotes Gen 2:24 and its recorded in Mk 10:7-9 and adds to it; this helps us discover the DVPT related to marriage; that it is a lifetime commitment.
This mystery is great
- Point is that until Christ came to die for, to sanctify and to glorify His bride the church, without that, there is no basis for the analogy here.
With 5:33 Paul makes a final point; one he deems important, even though not new to context; 1st directed to the husband and then wife.
- Idea here is that maybe you don't know all there is to know, all the implications of the mystery, the relationship of Christ to the church; but you should be able to grasp the most basic and important instructions from this paragraph related to marriage;
- [5:33b] speaks of the response of the wife to her husband's initiation of love towards her; of being what he is to be in the marriage; to lead, to provide/protect, and to love; vs:29 nourish/cherish.
- In a similar passage the wife is exhorted to submission and respectful conduct towards her husband; and it is said to be the greatest and finest adornment of the Christian woman. 1 Pet 3:1-7
The context is dealing with a special case; that of a mixed marriage; believing wife, unbelieving husband.
3:1 - Peter begins with the importance of an attitude of submission/response.
He next gives some limits to that scope of submission.
3:2-4 We see what makes a wife beautiful.
#1 - their pure life vs:2
#2 - respect towards her husband
The contrast here is between the artificial glamour of the world that's temporal and passing away and the true beauty that flows from the godly life.
What Peter is doing here is urging balance and propriety with the emphasis on modesty and holy character.
In 3: 4 We have 2 characteristics that will be manifest in the wife with this inner beauty.
#1 - gentle: prau<j; this is the same word that Jesus uses to describe Himself in Mt 11:29 when he referred to Himself as gentle and humble.
#2 - a quiet spirit; speaks of a quiet disposition; having inner tranquility
In vs:5-6 an example is given of OT saints. (Gen 18)
In vs: 7 he has a few things to say to the believing husbands.
The bottom line men is that if you are not rightly related to your wife God closes His ears to your prayers.
1. Paul has brought love down to a very real, very practical level.
2. There is some real sweat, real work to love in marriage.
3. This love is realistic, it accepts the person as they are, there must be a willingness to sacrifice for the other.
4. The purposeful aspect of love is most enlightening, because the purpose is related to something spiritual, to see the other grow and mature in the word.